American Jewish Conference Declines Invitation of State Dept. to Discuss Palestine

Stating that a discussion of the long-term recommendations of the Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry would be “premature and harmful” and would delay the transfer of the homeless Jews of Europe to Palestine, the American Jewish Conference today declined the invitation of the Department of State to submit its views on the report of the committee.

The Conference sent a letter to Under-Secretary of State Dean Acheson calling his attention to the fact that its view on the Palestine question were presented to the Anglo-American inquiry committee during the latter’s hearings in Washington. The letter, signed by Henry Monsky, chairman of the interim committee of the Conference, read:

“While we appreciate your courtesy, we beg to call your attention to the fact that our views on the Palestine question were presented to the Committee of Inquiry during its hearings in Washington in January. We enclose herewith the statement of the Conference to the Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry, and in addition, the comment of its executive committee issued after the publication of the Anglo-American committee’s report.

“In our view it is premature and harmful at this time to enter into a discussion of the long-term recommendations of the committee. This would only serve to delay the implementation of the affirmative recommendations of the report which have been accepted by President Truman.

“We are in full accord with the position taken by President Truman, that the recommendation calling for the transfer of 100,000 Jews to Palestine should be put into effect immediately. It would do irreparable injury to the Jews of Europe if the long proposed action to relieve their suffering and distress, delayed now for months, were again postponed to permit an extended discussion which has no prospect of an immediate solution of the problem involved.

“We therefore strongly urge that the Department of State undertake immediately to make the necessary arrangements for the transfer of the homeless Jews in Europe to Palestine, in accordance with the views of the President.”

During the hearings at Washington the Conference urged the immediate abolition of all existing restrictions and limitations on free Jewish immigration into Palestine and on the right of Jews to purchase and settle on the land there, and the immediate announcement of the determination by the responsible powers to reconstitute Palestine as a free and democratic Jewish Commonwealth.